Getting to Know Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is not only the nation's political center, but also its cultural, scientific and educational heart as well as a key transportation hub. Beijing has served as a capital of the country for more than 800 years.

Location
Beijing is located on the western coast of China on the Pacific Ocean, stands at the northern tip of the North China Plain, lies at approximately the same latitude as Philadelphia in the U.S. and Madrid in Spain. The city is 39% flat land and the other 61% is quite mountainous area. Beijing is surrounded by the Yanshan Mountains on the west, north and east while the small alluvial plain of the Yongding River lies to its southeast. Beijing faces the Bohai Sea, and the area

Time
Time used in Beijing and all over China is called Beijing Standard Time. It is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 8)

The Weather and Climate
Beijing has a rather dry, monsoon-influenced humid continental climate, characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and generally cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the Mongolian steppe, accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn, like spring, sees little rain, but is crisp and short. The monthly daily average temperature in January is −3.7 °C (25.3 °F), while in July it is 26.2 °C (79.2 °F). Precipitation averages around 570 mm (22.4 in) annually, with close to three-fourths of that total falling from June to August. Extremes have ranged from −27.4 °C (−17 °F) to 42.6 °C (109 °F).

Beijing Food Culture
As for Beijing Cuisine, people also call it the Capital City cuisine. Beijing was the capital city for the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Except for the Ming Dynasty, all the rulers of these dynasties were from northern nomadic tribes. For those 500- plus years, the dishes available from Beijing's catering trade were dominated by meat dishes, which corresponded to the eating habits of the ruling class. The Mongolian rulers of the Yuan Dynasty were especially fond of mutton, and 80% of the dishes in their palace were made of mutton. These mutton dishes still are made today, such as stewed mutton, instant – boiled mutton, quick – fried mutton tripe, and fried dumplings with minced mutton. The Qing Dynasty rulers ate pork before moving to Beijing from Shenyang in northeastern China. Their cooking methods were stewing, roasting, and boiling. Pork and mutton have been equally represented in Beijing cuisine since the Qing Dynasty as a result of the dietetic influence of the Manchus. Roast and stewed pig, pork dishes, and pig's offal stewed in ceramic pots offered by the Shaguoju Restaurant (ceramic pots restaurant) were the first to be offered to suit the eating preferences of the Manchus. Gradually these dishes were accepted by the residents of Beijing.

Electricity
The electric voltage in China is 220V/50Hz and the standard wall socket has three-connectors (L, N and E).

Tipping
Tipping is not expected by service attendants in China, except for tour guides, hotel porters and housemaids.

Hours of Business Operations
The Labour Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates a five-day workweek with no more than 8 hours a day and no more than 44 hours a week with Saturdays and Sundays off. Opening hours of different businesses will be different. Here is some basic information on the business hours.
1. Banks
Chinese Banks are open daily throughout the week from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
2. Pharmacies
Most Chinese Chemists normally keep shops hours opening from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm whiles some are always remain opened 24 hours.
3. Hospitals
Hospitals in Beijing are operated between the hours of 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, whiles emergency is 24 hours.
4. Major sightseeing
Major sights like museums, parks, great wall, Tiananmen Square, and so on are opened to the public daily 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Apr 16 – Oct 15, last entry at 4:00 pm), 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Oct 16 – Apr 15, last entry at 3:30 pm)
5. Market
Beijing market opens daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm or 6:00 pm.
6. Government Offices
Government officials work from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with one-hour siesta and work off on weekends.
7. Post office
Daily between the hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
8. Restaurants
Restaurants usually opens at 10:00 am, lunch is served in from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Dinner is available from 6:00 am – 11:00 pm. Outside of these hours you can get delicious snacks to eat in smaller restaurants and some bars.
9. Shopping Malls
From 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
10. Supermarkets
Supermarkets operate from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm while some operates 24 hours.